COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland will host its inaugural “Beauty and the Beast” event Friday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m., in the XFINITY Center. The gymnastics and wrestling teams will compete simultaneously on the main floor with the GymTerps taking on George Washington and West Virginia and Maryland's grapplers facing off with Harvard.
“It's great to have the opportunity to host such a great event,” wrestling head coach Kerry McCoy said. “We are excited to collaborate with Brett and his program and thrilled that the sport of wrestling will be exposed to a new group of fans. We're going to put on a good show and this will be a great event for the University of Maryland.”
The distinctive layout of the event will allow Maryland fans to enjoy the different aspects of both sports at the same time. A joint autograph session featuring student-athletes from both squads will immediately follow the competition. Admission is free to the public.
“We're excited about the inaugural Beauty and the Beast event,” gymnastics head coach Brett Nelligan said. “It will be a great opportunity for fans to see two great programs compete. The atmosphere should be electric and we are looking to start the season off on the right foot.”
Maryland's wrestling team has put together four dual victories so far this season. The squad features All-American and two-time conference champion Spencer Myers at heavyweight. Notable Terps include two-time NCAA qualifier Geoffrey Alexander at 133 pounds and 141-pound NCAA qualifier Shyheim Brown. The duo is a combined 15-2 this year.
The tri-meet with the Colonials and Mountaineers will serve as the season opener for the gymnastics team. Nelligan's squad includes All-Americans Katy Dodds and Stephanie Giameo and touted newcomer Abbie Epperson, who along with Giameo, was named to the preseason Big Ten Watch List. The GymTerps haven't lost a home meet for two consecutive seasons.
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